Elbit Silver Arrow has unveiled a new maritime-patrol version of its Hermes 1500 medium-altitude unmanned air vehicle and confirms that a demonstrator aircraft flew earlier this year in Israel.
The new version has an increased maximum take-off weight of 1,750kg (3,850lb) and is capable of operations of up to 50h endurance using twin external fuel tanks mounted outboard from the engine nacelles. The existing Hermes 1500 has an endurance of 26h on internal fuel and a maximum take-off weight of 1,500kg.
The external tanks are conformal despite being fitted to a pylon mount. The addition required some minor wing redesign.
Elbit says the new version is company-funded. The original Hermes 1500 was jointly funded by the Israeli ministry of defence.
The maritime patrol variant would carry a maritime surveillance radar in an underbelly mount, electro-optic and infrared sensors, and an electronic intelligence gathering suite with flat panel antennas on the rear fuselage.
Source: Flight International
